Former St Andrews University principal speaks of “puerile” behaviour by R&A members

The first female vice-chancellor of St Andrews University has spoken of the childish behaviour of some members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club who mocked her over its all-male membership policy.

Professor Louise Richardson told Kirsty Young, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs that a number of individuals had been “waving their ties in this puerile way boys do sometimes”.

Professor Richardson was a guest on the popular weekly programme and spoke about her time in St Andrews from her arrival in 2009 until she left for Oxford in January.

Ms Young pointed out that one of the perks of being vice-chancellor was an honorary membership of the R and A which was, until last year, a male only club.

“Goodness me, to use use a good Scottish word, what a stooshie there was about that,” she said.

Asked how much the policy had bothered her personally, Prof Richardson replied: “It didn’t bother me personally that I couldn’t join these particular men and have lunch with them but it bothered me that women who wanted to be members of the oldest, most prestigious golf club in the world could not be.”

She added: “They have now voted to admit women so I see that as a result and I’m absolutely delighted.”

Prof Richardson’s desire for gender equality began at a young age.

Educated by nuns who taught her how to iron handkerchiefs and men’s shirts, she said she had vowed then: “I am never going to marry anyone who expects me to iron his shirts.”

Professor Louise Richardson’s song choices

The songs chosen by Professor Louise Richardson were:

1. St Andrews Girls by St Andrews a cappella group The Other Guys
2. Brian Boru’s March performed by James Galway
3. Carolyn’s Concerto performed by The Chieftans and the Belfast Harp Orchestra
4. How Many Women from the musical Chess
5. The theme music from Cinema Paradiso, composed by Ennio Morriconne
6. The Green Green Grass of Home by Joan Baez
7. Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No.1 in G Major performed by Yo Yo Ma
8. Bring Him Home from Les Miserables performed by Colm Wilkinson

Her chosen book was a collection of Seamus Heaney’s poems.